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Tulo takes home back-to-back Gold Gloves

Tulo takes home back-to-back Gold Gloves

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Tulowitzki's outstanding play 0:26

6/26/11: Troy Tulowitzki makes a beautiful play, fielding Nick Swisher's grounder deep in the hole and firing to first for the out

By Greg Johns
/
MLB.com |

Troy Tulowitzki's postseason honors continued to roll in Tuesday, as the Rockies shortstop received his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award, as voted by managers and coaches in the National League.

Tulowitzki became just the third Colorado player to receive more than one Gold Glove, joining five-time winner Larry Walker and three-time winner Todd Helton.

The 27-year-old had already been named the NL's All-Star shortstop by The Sporting News and he received the Fielding Bible Award on Monday as the Major Leagues' top defensive shortstop.

Coming off a season in which he hit .302 with 30 home runs and a career-best 105 RBIs, Tulowitzki is in line to win his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award as well, which will be announced Wednesday on the MLB Network at 4 p.m. MT.

NL GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

The National League winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, with the number of Gold Gloves each has won.

POS.

PLAYER

NO.

C

Yadier Molina, Cardinals

4

1B

Joey Votto, Reds

1

2B

Brandon Phillips, Reds

3

3B

Placido Polanco, Phillies

3

SS

Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies

2

LF

Gerardo Parra, D-backs

1

CF

Matt Kemp, Dodgers

2

RF

Andre Ethier, Dodgers

1

P

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

1

Tulowitzki beat out Ronny Cedeno of the Pirates and Alex Gonzalez of the Braves for the NL Gold Glove at shortstop in the new format, with winners announced during an hour-long program on ESPN2.

"Strong arm, big guy," said ESPN analyst Barry Larkin, a three-time Gold Glove shortstop himself during his playing days with the Reds. "People don't realize how big and intimidating this guy is. He's an offensive force, for sure. Defensively, with only six errors in 140 games, he's very, very good defensively."

Omar Vizquel, who has won 11 Gold Gloves at the position, compared the 6-foot-3 Tulowitzki to Cal Ripken Jr. in their physical nature while presenting the award.

"No doubt," Vizquel said. "He's tall with a strong arm. He moves like a lightweight, quick feet around second base. He has unbelievable ability at shortstop."

Tulowitzki becomes the youngest NL shortstop to earn two Gold Gloves since Ozzie Smith took home the second of his eventual 13 at age 26 in 1981.

Neifi Perez is the only other Rockies shortstop to win a Gold Glove, having earned the honor in 2000.